Compulsions: Unwanted behaviors that make them feel driven to do something.

Often the person carries out the behaviors to get rid of the obsessive thoughts, but this only provides temporary relief. With OCD, a person may realize that their obsessions aren’t reasonable, and may try to ignore them or stop them, but that only increases their distress and anxiety. Ultimately, the person feels driven to perform compulsive acts in an effort to ease their stressful feelings.

Who has OCD?

About 3 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 54 have OCD. OCD starts during childhood or the teen years with most being diagnosed at about age 19.

Our TLC Experts Videos

No matching videos

What are the symptoms?

Obsessions Themes:

Fear of contamination or dirt

Having things orderly and symmetrical

Aggressive or horrific impulses

Sexual images or thoughts

Obsessive Symptoms and Signs:

Fear of being contaminated by shaking hands or by touching objects others have touched

Doubts that you’ve locked the door or turned off the stove

Thoughts that you’ve hurt someone in a traffic accident

Intense stress when objects aren’t orderly or facing the right way

Images of hurting your child

Impulses to shout obscenities in inappropriate situations

Avoidance of situations that can trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands

Replaying pornographic images in your mind

Dermatitis because of frequent hand washing

Skin lesions because of picking at your skin

Hair loss or bald spots because of hair pulling

Compulsive Themes:

Washing and cleaning

Counting

Checking

Demanding reassurances

Performing the same action repeatedly

Orderliness

Compulsive Symptoms or Signs:

Hand washing until your skin becomes raw

Checking doors repeatedly to make sure they’re locked

Checking the stove repeatedly to make sure it’s off

Counting in certain patterns

Arranging your canned goods to face the same way

What can I expect from TLC?

Counselors can teach you ways to help find healthy ways to deal with obsessive thoughts and compulsions, help you gain control over ritualistic thoughts and tendencies, gain control over anxiety, and explore ways to treat other symptoms.

What Therapies are most effective for OCD!

EFT – Emotion Freedom Techniques is a very effective short term therapy used in helping people be free from their obsessions and compulsions. This technique is used in addictions treatments as well and in many cases more effective than 12 step programs!

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing is used also for Military Veterans and highly successful in freeing them from the intense trauma and anxiety they have endured in war and used for auto accidents, dog bites, substance abuse, addictions and more! Read More

CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people change their thinking patterns and the way they react to anxiety provoking situations.

Wellness & Supplements: Interestingly, twenty minutes of aerobic exercise per day is thought to be an effective weapon against anxiety. Good nutrition is essential and adding supplements such as B Vitamins, calcium, amino acids, and Vitamin C may be important but the quality of the supplements are paramount. We can direct you to the right health food stores to get the right brands that often work immediately. Caffeine and cigarettes aggravate anxiety and should be eliminated or decreased. Often with your treatment for PTSD the cravings to smoke or drink caffeine are reduced considerably.

TLC Articles

The movie “Inside Out” is based on 5 different emotions a person is faced with from birth and throughout childhood. The first emotion shown as a baby is joy, quickly followed by sadness. The movie continues to show how the other emotions appear as we witness Riley, the main character, engage in different life experiences. […]

There is much controversy regarding technology and its negative effects on children. Remember, television is relatively new in the grand scheme of time—our great grandparents’ generation grew up without it—and for the most part computer and video games were born in the 80s. Since the inception of modern technology, there is valid concern and skepticism […]

Orlando Counselor on ADHD Social Skills Gaps – BFFs We love to celebrate with those we feel closest to and a best friend forever (BFF) is one who is there when we feel lost or sad and need to be comforted; they help us find hope. These friends are the ones we can share everything […]

Orlando drug abuse counselors comment on recent news related to increased drug use in elementary schools. Every parent’s biggest fear is to find out whether or not their child is using drugs or alcohol. There is never an easy way to be certain that your child is perhaps abusing drugs or alcohol. Many of the […]

The events of the Baltimore Super Mom Viral Youtube Video has inspired Lake Mary Counselor to give 5 Ways Parents Can Help Teens Affect Social Change. By now you have see the video that went viral Monday of Toya Graham, a Baltimore mother of a 16 yr-old, who when protests turned violent Monday afternoon went out […]

Orlando counselor offers 4 self esteem tips the 2015 Superbowl Commercial “Like a Girl” commercial teaches! You may have caught the reality-based commercial in which girls of various ages were asked to “Run like a girl.” The commercial beautifully demonstrated how sexism, like racism, is socially constructed by the use of language in our society. […]